Praise for Sterling's first Liverpool goal

21 October 2012 08:17

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers praised Raheem Sterling after the youngster's maiden goal for the club secured the Reds' first home league win of the season.

The 17-year-old became the club's second-youngest Premier League goalscorer behind Michael Owen with his 29th-minute strike to beat Rodgers' former club Reading.

"It was a brilliant goal," said Rodgers. "We have been asking him, Suso and the other wide players to try to break the line of defenders and he's done that."

He added: "We've been doing a lot of work on that on the training field but all the credit goes to him because he's got to identify the moment to go in.

"It wasn't an easy chance because he is going away from goal, has a quick defender tracking him and to adjust his feet and have the technique to shoot across the keeper is wonderful."

Fellow forward Luis Suarez was also at the heart of much of Liverpool's attacking thrust, but he could not add to his tally of seven goals in his last eight matches despite having a number of chances.

"He scores a lot of chances. He's not perfect, he's not going to score every chance, but he's got a great return if you look at his stats, at his goals return at Ajax and since he's come into here," added Rodgers.

Reading manager Brian McDermott was pleased with the way his side came back in the second half and thought they could have earned a draw.

"Liverpool never really hurt us with their passing moves but did so with one ball over the top," he said.

"In the second half we were right in the game and I honestly felt we were going to get at least a point and we were on the front foot right till the end."